Chapter 44: Sword in Stone (rewrite)

King Uther, having always been victorious, chose to disappear without a trace, leaving his fate unknown. His disappearance caused unease among the nobles, who were now faced with uncertainty.

Merlin, unable to hide the situation, decided to accompany Uther on his final journey. As Uther's eyes, marked with black bruises, met Merlin's, he chuckled, "I must say, you look quite amusing with those black eyes. Lott was right; you should have received a double dose. Green would suit you well."

Merlin, with a wry smile, responded, "Your Majesty, don't you think it's a bit much to treat your loyal followers this way while you're on your last journey?"

"Really? Should I add a couple more punches?" Uther teased, tilting his head.

"Just forget it," Merlin said, stepping away to avoid any potential blows from Uther.

Uther laughed heartily, then turned to head north. "Let's see where I end up. Wherever I fall, let it be. Merlin, the remaining battles are yours and Lott's. But remember, you must protect your interests and not let others take advantage of the situation."

With that, Uther walked away, leaving Merlin behind. Merlin, watching the king's retreating figure, felt a pang of regret for losing a friend.

"Next will be the era of King Arthur. When Arthur's time is over, where will I be?" Merlin pondered aloud, his thoughts drifting to the future.

However, he quickly redirected his focus to the present, recognizing the complexities introduced by Lott's presence. The future was uncertain, and for now, Merlin needed to concentrate on the immediate challenges.

In Wales, Vortigern had recently settled with his troops in a fortified castle stocked with ample supplies. The strength of his army grew as various foreign nations surrendered to him, yet Vortigern knew that despite the numbers, his forces were poorly organized and ill-prepared to counterattack England.

As he contemplated the situation, Vortigern felt a sense of unease. He sighed, reflecting on the loss of his brother, King Uther. "My brother should have left Camelot by now. The foe he battled throughout his life has finally met his end."

Although Uther was defeated, he managed to leave the world on his terms, which Vortigern considered a victory of sorts. His satisfaction was fleeting, however, as he wondered about his next adversary. The couple responsible for burning the granaries was particularly troubling to him. Vortigern knew they would be difficult to confront, even more so than Uther.

"These two are despicable and unreasonable," Vortigern muttered through gritted teeth. "Next time I see them, I'll make sure they face severe consequences."

Despite his desire for revenge, Vortigern understood that dealing with these two would be twice as challenging as facing King Uther. Nevertheless, he took solace in the honour that such a challenge would bring.

In need of allies to tackle these formidable opponents, Vortigern pondered who might offer assistance. Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Do you need help?"

"Who's there?" Vortigern demanded, clenching his fists and searching the surroundings.

"We are fairies..." came the ethereal reply.

"Fairies?" Vortigern was taken aback, unsure of how to respond to this unexpected encounter.

Early the next morning, the people of Chalk City were jolted awake by urgent cries. Groggy and irritated, they emerged to find the city in turmoil. The King of Camelot, Uther, had mysteriously disappeared, and no one knew his whereabouts.

Rumours spread quickly: some believed Uther was on a quest for the Holy Grail, and others thought he was searching for a fairy in the lake. Some even speculated that Uther had gone to fight a dragon or was engaged in a duel with Vortigern. No one knew for sure.

When Lott heard the news, he realized Uther's disappearance was part of his effort to avoid showing any weakness. "He's truly a prideful man," Lott commented.

"Huh? What did you say?" Morgan asked, curious.

"Nothing," Lott quickly replied, knowing Uther had wanted to keep his departure a secret.

Morgan, feeling concerned, grabbed Lott's hand. "Where could he have gone? Let's find him."

"Okay," Lott agreed, and the two set off through the city.

Though they knew finding Uther was unlikely, they searched as a form of distraction. In the end, they were unable to locate him.

In the following days, Camelot's search for King Uther continued fruitlessly. His disappearance became an accepted reality, and the city's focus shifted to managing the aftermath.

Morgan and Lott stayed in Camelot, addressing the administrative backlog that had accumulated. They worked tirelessly for over two weeks before finally emerging for some respite. Outside, they discovered a crowd gathered, buzzing with excitement.

"What's happening?" Lott inquired, pulling a passerby aside.

The passerby looked at them in surprise. "Haven't you heard? There's a rumour that whoever can pull the sword from the stone will be the new king of Camelot, chosen by the heavens. A holy sword was recently discovered embedded in a huge rock outside the city. Many have tried to draw it but have failed."

This revelation sparked curiosity and anticipation among the people. The legend of the sword in the stone had captured their imaginations, setting the stage for a new chapter in Camelot's history.